Therapist hopes to open school for autistic children

HARLINGEN - An occupational therapist is hoping to open a pre-school especially designed for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders.

Chris Porras, an occupational therapist currently working for Easter Seals and with more than 10 years experience working with children, is hoping the community will help her in the quest for the pre-school.

Porras said it will cost about $50,000 to open the nonprofit school with state required equipment, furniture and curriculum.

Porras said she has worked with children diagnosed with ASDs as an occupational therapist but feels limited in the time she has to work with the children. Also, Porras said there is no center in the area that caters mainly to autistic children.

On average, Porras said she gets to work with an autistic child two or three times a week for about 30 to 45 minutes a day.

"If (children with ASDs) were to have daily intervention, it would be so much better for them," Porras said. "We need to reach out to them in their way of learning."

Porras said ASDs are neurological disorders that cause children to process information differently than most people.

Grace Pre-School Academy for the Autistic Child would be a Christian faith-based school that would prepare children, from 2 years of age to 5 years of age for the transition into elementary school, she said.

The curriculum would be designed for the learning needs of autistic children, Porras said, and would offer assessment of skills, sensory integration, a motor skills program and progress tracking and other services.

The school would also offer services to parents of autistic children such as educational resources, support group, workshops and legal consultation.

Porras said she is working to open the school because she "feels God put it in (her) heart" and because she too is a parent of a child who grew up with a learning disability.

"It was really difficult (to raise a child with a learning disability) and I couldn't find any help," Porras said. "(My son) struggled to learn, he struggled to keep friends and he struggled in his daily activities."

"I remember what it felt like when I see the parents and I see the children (I work with)," Porras said. "We have to help these families and children. Families need help in knowing they are not alone."

Porras said the staff at the school would be made up of trained professionals and a legal consultant and parents who have children with autism and/or are advocates of autism awareness.

Porras said she hopes the school can be up and running and accepting students by March.